‘NO PEDIGREE POLITICS’

On Sunday evening, Floyd Reifer, the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for the St. George North By-Election called for inclusivity and dismissed the notion of pedigree politics.

With the by-election slated for November 11, Reifer was campaigning at the DLP Public Meeting in Flat Rock this past weekend. The candidate called for the dismissal of what has been called political pedigree by the Barbados Labour Party and stated that all should matter, not just those with a political history.

“The priorities of this Barbados Labour Party government continues to demonstrate that all people are equal but some are more equal than others,” stated Reifer.

The DLP candidate went further to say that it seemed that the people of St. George North and their children were expendable. He referenced the situation at St. George Primary School where there was an urgent need for more janitorial staff, which has exposed not only the staff, but children and their families to the health risks. He also stated that though the school had asked for aid, there was little help from the current administration and the school and parents of the children had to step up and help to relieve the situation. Reifer encouraged the people gathered there and all of St. George North to do the right thing on November 11 and vote no to pedigree politics.

“I am here to assure you tonight that while they are practicing pedigree politics and looking for a chosen few, I am doing big works in this constituency. Big works for everybody,” said Reifer.

The candidate then announced that he had a team waiting and prepared to go into St. George Primary to clean up the school subject to the approval of the principal.

The DLP candidate also challenged the amount of money the current government has agreed to pay certain economic advisers, saying that the funds referenced could have been used to ease the hurt of the people of Barbados including the vulnerable elderly. In fact Reifer quoted figures, outlining what could be done in St. George North with a portion of the money being spent on the consultants.

“With $27 000, we could build and we could help 192 people with bus fare for a month, we could buy $500 in groceries for 54 people a month. We could pay the water bill for 403 households at an average of $67 per month,” explained the candidate.

Reifer also highlighted the fact that the school children of Barbados could benefit significantly from such an amount. He explained that $27 000 could also pay for Internet service for at least 200 households, with the intention of aiding school children in gaining access to WiFi for online learning. He expanded by declaring that it was also possible to attain 162 tablets for $81 000, which would go a long way in satisfying the present need of the school children of the island to be able to participate in online classes.

Reiterating his plan to begin a reading and homework programme for the children of St. George North, Reifer reported that ten teachers were on board and ready to start work with the children.

“This is what representation is, no fluff, no gimmicks, no false promises. I do not have to wait on Prime Minister Mottley for big works and I do not have to be on the government payroll to make things happens for my people. I am engaging my network directly, not via WhatsApp,” declared Reifer.

He contended that Barbados needed to retake democracy and combat nepotism and classism, which can hinder progress.

“We must move this country in a direction where the average Barbadian can make a contribution at the highest level. We must move this country in a direction that truly respects politics of inclusion by including those who have the talent, the skills and the knowledge to take Barbados forward,” said Reifer.